A Night of Stars:A Talent Show and Recognition Night

So if you have still been following along with this little blog of mine, then you know already that I am now an Activity Days leader. Now, I am SUPER DUPER excited about this calling and have a TON of great ideas (to which hopefully I will be able to put to good use someday) but I am also at the same time, TERRIFIED of this calling. I always seem to go into a calling after a really good leader, one who all the girls love and adore, gets released. Sigh...wish me luck!

Anyway, as part of the Faith in God program (aka Activity Days), we are to hold some sort of recognition night at least twice a year. Ours, is coming up in September. EEK!!! What was once going to be just a talent show is now going to be what I call our Night of Starts where we will combine our talent show and recognition night all in one.

Now, I have convinced the other leaders to kinda make this a fun night for the girls and do a Red Carpet type of theme. Oh, I should mention, what I see in my head and what I put to this blog may or may not be what comes out in real life as with any calling, I have other leaders I have to work with, small things but we are three very different leaders and all with three very different ways of doing things. 

Back to the Night of Stars. Did I mention that this was a perfect theme to tie in with the activity and recognizing the girls and the great job they have done with their Faith in God? We are wanting to do something similar as to what the YW do for their EinE or Evening in Excellence (see?! this would work perfectly for YWs!). We want the girls to bring things that they have done on display so that the other girls, primary leaders and parents can see.

Pinterest is a magical place and has a lot of really good ideas (some as to which I hope to borrow from and tweak a bit to fit my needs) for this theme. To me, Pinterest is kinda like the new Google- if you have ab idea just search the site and you are bound to find someones take on the same idea. I will post the links at the bottom of this post of the ideas that I plan on using (keep in mind this activity for us doesn't happen til the middle of September).

So here is what I envision our Night of Stars to look like:

* When the girls and their parents walk into the church, I want them to be greeted by gold stars with each of the girls names written on them. This to be done with by placing them one the floor, hanging them from fishing line from the ceiling of the foyer or even taping them on the walls.

*Then they would be greeted by the
"paparazzi" and get their pictures taken in front of some sort of back drop. 

*Next, they would walk into the gym where towards the back of the gym would be tables that would have the girls items displayed. In the middle towards the stage, there would be two sections of chairs divided by some red butcher paper more than likely. This would be our "red  carpet" that would lead up to the stage where the girls would perform or talk about their talents and where us leaders could stand and recognize the each of the girl
s for the job they are doing.

Lastly to the side of the gym would be our table for refreshments because when you meet for something like this, food is always a good way to end the night and allow for a little bit of socializing.

Here are the links to the ideas that I just love:

http://alittlecrafting.blogspot.com/2012/11/shine-night-of-stars.html

http://nogalesfamily.blogspot.com/2015/01/young-womens-in-excellence-2014.html

http://www.partycity.com/category/party+ideas/theme+party/hollywood/red+carpet+party.do

http://karaspartyideas.com/2013/06/red-carpet-10th-birthday-party.html

Just Loved This Reminder

2013 Mutual Theme Has Been Announced

I am excited to know that the new theme has been announced and that it comes from the scripture found in D&C 87:8 "Stand Ye in Holy Places,  and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold it cometh quickly, saith the Lord."

You can find more about the theme HERE

So to help get the ideas going here is a bookmark that I created for the theme. Picture comes from the site of announcement. More to come!

Click HERE to download PDF of 3 or right click and save on image for jpeg.

New Beginnings Idea Part 1

I know that I have been promising this for a long time now but I have done some soul searching and after looking on line for some ideas and after attending my own ward's new beginnings I think I have a great idea that could be used (If only I could put it in action and get pictures!).

A good source of inspiration came from this blog and idea. I loved it and think it would be great of one of those themes that could run through the entire year from new beginnings to evening in excellence. 

I love this idea here:

Instructions on how to make found HERE

I think it would be fun to make a few smaller ones like the one pictured above and have placed on either side of a bigger on in the middle. The middle one being that of the YW logo...which of course is the torch. I think it would be AWESOME to have the lights outline the logo and with lights dimmed it would amazing and really show the torch which is a reminder to arise and shine and bring others to Christ. 

Couldn't you just see the torch outlined in lights??

For decorations I think it would be fun to have tables that are draped in table clothes (white) with lights underneath them to shine through. This is what my ward did and then they had the battery operated tea lights wrapped up cutely in the cellophane of the different value colors.  However I think if you could find lights in the value colors stick them through the canvas or find a way to tint them so they were the right colors and have them surround the torch (four on each side?)

Perhaps when they walk in you can have Katy Perry's  "Firework" playing softly in the back ground. You can read the lyrics HERE. I mention this song because I really loved the idea (taken from same blog as from above)when I read it and being able to connect the lyrics to something uplifting- a positive message...which is something that music today I think lacks. Here is what Sisters in Zion made in connection with the song:

There's a spark in you (Moroni 7:16  - spirit of Christ given to all)

You just gotta ignite the light (testimony)

And let it shine  (Matthew 5:16 - let your light so shine before men)

Just own the night, like the Fourth of July

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what you're worth  (individual worth)

Come on let your colors burst  (value colors)

(For a YWIE idea...you could put together a slide show of things they YW have done that has made them shine forth with this song playing in the background of the slide show??)


The Invite

 The above picture is a invite idea that I created for the event...I don't have a file to share but I can easily customize it for you if you shoot me an email (see right sidebar) and personalize it as well. Or if you want I can leave it blank except for the SHINE part. Let me know....also idea came from Sisters in Zions idea...what can I say...its AWESOME!

Program to be continued....